Computers donated to Staten Island schools impacted by Sandy

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - PLEASANT PLAINS - Students at South Richmond High School and PS/IS 25 will have five gently-used laptop computers for use in their library and classrooms, thanks to a surplus from the federal government.

Under a special initiative to help local area schools impacted by Hurricane Sandy, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has donated excess federal computer equipment valued at more than $140,000 to five city schools in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island that incurred damage from the storm, including South Richmond, which is located on the grounds of Mount Loretto. The high school, along with its companion elementary and intermediate school, serves students with special needs.

The giveaway is part of the agency's Computers For Learning program that allows government agencies to donate no-longer-needed computers and equipment to schools and some educational nonprofit organizations. GSA anticipates that this will be the first of a number of donations to Sandy-affected schools in New York, New Jersey and Long Island.

"These are just a few of the many schools in our local area that suffered losses as a result of Hurricane Sandy. It gives us great pleasure to be able to help these schools through this program. In this era of ever decreasing budgets, the Computers for Learning program is one way schools and other qualifying organizations can obtain equipment without having to expend precious resources," said GSA regional administrator Denise L. Pease.

"I am very proud of GSA's role in supporting this program, especially this initiative to help Sandy-impacted schools. We have been making an extra effort to get the word out to schools in our regional area so that they may take advantage of it."

City Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott was pleased with the donations.

"This generous gift will go a long way toward helping some of our most deeply impacted schools get back on track. I thank GSA Regional Administrator Pease and her staff for donating these computers, which will benefit thousands of students."

Because federal agencies periodically refresh their computer equipment, the gently used laptops that are no longer needed by the government become surplus goods that would usually be disposed of.

While federal agencies are able to donate the equipment directly to schools, GSA helps facilitate the process by sponsoring the Computers for Learning website, www.computersforlearning.gov. Schools and eligible organizations are able to register at the site and can then browse through the available equipment that is posted there. Schools located in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy can currently include that information in their registration for the program.

Since it was established, the Computers for Learning Program has provided thousands of excess computers and equipment to eligible schools and organizations across the country. In addition to supporting innovation and technology in education, the program also helps support the environment by helping to reuse equipment and reduce electronic waste. According to government estimates, reusing just one computer can prevent 30 pounds of hazardous waste and 77 pounds of solid waste from entering landfills, and prevent more than 17 gallons of water and 32 tons of air from being polluted. ---Follow @siadvance on Twitter, join us on Facebook